Marie Nutting, President

I was born in Livermore, California, but I lived in Ione from the time I was 7 years old until I married. My husband worked for the California Department of Forestry and due to transfers we lived in Napa county, Lake county and then 25 years in El Dorado county. After my husband’s retirement and a 36 year absence, we decided to move back home to Ione.

I graduated from Ione High School in 1963. I attended one year of college at Chico State and 20 years after my children were grown I got an AA in business. I ran a small business for eight years until my husband’s retirement.

I grew up on top of Main Street and saw the castle every day. I have never stopped loving the sight of the castle and hope never to lose sight of it.

Marie serves on the tours, visitor's center, site development, and by-laws committees.

Jerry Funderburgh, Vice President

Jerry serves on the private funding, site development, and by-laws committees.

Kim Kozlowski, Secretary

I was born in Castro Valley, California, and grew up in Hayward, Dublin, and Livermore.  My educational career started with an AA degree in Accounting and Business Management from Heald College. After working many years in the accounting department of a local hospital in Hayward, I migrated to Washington state, where I continued my education while working for the State of Washington at Clark College, a junior college in Vancouver. There I worked directly with the college’s controller in the accounting department. A few years later, California called this California girl home, and I settled in the Sacramento area, where I completed my BA in Accounting and Business Management.

I worked as the controller for numerous business entities for many years, when an extreme life change event occurred, and my husband and I moved to Amador County to be closer to my Mom. My parents had migrated to Ione many years before and had become passionate about Preston Castle. Having spent so much time at “Castle” functions over the years, their passion soon became mine, and it has been with great honor to be a part of the Preston Castle Foundation’s effort to restore this incredible building, whose history gives me chills. It was a dream of my Dad’s to see it put back to a useful purpose, and it’s my dream to do what I can to aide in making that happen. The castle can be seen from my parents’ front lawn. I hope never to lose sight of it!

Allan Trimble

Allan serves on the grants, building renovations, and by-laws committees.

Carl Gillette

Carl serves on the building renovations committee.

Carol Rosell

When we began our search for an area to retire to, we drove into Ione and the first thing that caught our eye was this large brick edifice, standing proud and overlooking the city. We later discovered it was the Preston Castle and upon closer inspection, saw the neglected condition of the building. Within two years, we joined the Preston Castle Foundation in order to do what we could to restore this neglected historical building.

I worked for M. J. Brock & Sons, a large building contractor in Sacramento, where I was the liaison between the salesmen, mortgage company, and escrow offices. I left there to have children. Later, I worked for Bank of America for 20 years, as assistant vice president, where I supervised six single family residence loan officers. Later, I worked for H & R Block as a tax preparer for 14 years, earning my Enrolled Agent status during that time. Six of those years I was the office supervisor.

Upon retiring, I am actively involved in volunteer work, doing what can be done to better the community. I served on the Amador County Grand Jury during the 2001-2002 year. I also volunteer doing taxes for the AARP during tax season, and participate in various other Ione social and community events.

I eagerly anticipate seeing something very constructive done for the Preston Castle.

Carol serves on the events and grants committees.

I lived in San Diego County through childhood, marriage, and raising a family. I attended San Diego State College for two years. My jobs included working at Pacific Telephone & Telegraph and Kaiser Permanente both in San Diego and Sacramento.

In 1991 I moved with my family from San Diego to Sacramento. Over the years I participated in many activities at school, church, and the community. The Preston Castle Foundation has been a big part of my life since moving to Ione.

With a family ties to Ione since 1935, I spent many summer vacations in Ione. My dream of someday living in Ione was fulfilled in January 1999. My family lives nearby—my mother in Sutter Hill and my children in Sacramento. I hope to continue in service to others for many years, especially in the restoration of the "Preston Castle."

Peggy serves on the events, grants, tours/docents, and visitor's center maintenance committees.

Hal Timmer

I enlisted when I was 17, and spent the next nine years with the Air Force. During that time, I married Beverly and had a son, Michael. Duty stations were in Louisiana, Japan, Korea, Clovis, New Mexico, Chanute AFB, Illinois, and Roswell, New Mexico. After some months as a civilian in a small town in Iowa, I enlisted in the Army. The next three years, I traveled to many locations. A three year tour of duty in Germany turned out to be less than six months. While in the Army Security Agency, I trained on IBM equipment and subsequently left the Army and went to work for IBM. The first four years were spent in Dubuque, Iowa. Then a change from hardware repair to working with software sent our family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for eight years. 

The next move was to San Jose, California. I worked there from 1977 until retirement in 1993. During that time we lost our only son, and Bev had surgery that placed her in a wheelchair. I have been Bev's caregiver ever since. I enjoy bowling and golf and am devoted to the restoration of Preston Castle. As well as the Preston Castle Foundation, I'm a member of Ione Business and Community Association, the Amador Chamber of Commerce, the Moose Lodge in Fiddletown, the American Legion and Cornerstone Baptist Church. 

Retirement life in Ione has been anything but boring. I delight in giving tours of the Castle. A well planned out home-sight means that I can view the Castle from my kitchen window.

Hal serves on the building maintenance and site development committees.

I grew up in Ione—my family on my father’s side goes back to the late 1800's in the Ione Valley. My father, grandfather and great grand father all retired from the Preston School of Industry, so my attachment and feelings for the Castle are very strong. It’s important that we all do what we can to preserve our heritage. I want to have the Castle around so that many more future generations can see a beautiful part of our local and state history. Ione would not be the same without the Castle.

Doug serves on the private funding, contracts management, and site development committees.

I was born and raised in Ione. My father, Richard Duran, worked at Preston School of Industry for 30 years. I lived on the grounds of the lower circle, as we called it, at house #22. We checked the mail and Dad received pay at the Castle.